I've posted on this subject before, and was convinced that I had missed something or that I was losing it. Anyway, I've confirmed it now, and I think it's escaped detection because the vast majority of Union players don't watch their income closely.
It's this: Starting at some point in the game, Union shipping in the Atlantic fails to earn anything at all. I mean, it doesn't show up at all in the log (and yes, I've checked every log, over and over again). It just started happening in my 1.06 game as Union, and it's late dec. 1862.
I tend to play the increase merchant shipping card, because I like the increase in money and WS, so I watch income every turn. Back in an early version of the game, I noticed that earnings stopped, and I posted on it, but nothing came of it. Now I'm sure.
Is this WAD? I mean, are there certain turns when the union merchant fleet will earn NOTHING? If not, there's something amiss. I've gone over my turn again and again to be sure, and there's no earnings at all.